<aside> 💡 ACCESS.2019.2894819, IEEE Access
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<aside> 💡 2019
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This paper conducts a comprehensive study on the application of big data and machine learning in the electrical power grid, introduced through the emergence of the next-generation power system– the smart grid (SG). Connectivity lies at the core of this new grid infrastructure, which is provided by the internet of things (IoT). This connectivity, and constant communication required in this system, also introduced a massive data volume that demands techniques far superior than conventional methods for proper analysis and decision-making. IoT integrated SG system can provide efficient load forecasting and data acquisition technique, along with cost effectiveness. Big data analysis and machine learning techniques are essential to reap these benefits.
The electrical power system is poised to move towards the next-generation smart grid (SG) system, and thus this topic has acclaimed significant attention in the research community [1-7]. SG is the integration of information and digital communication technologies with power grid systems to enable bi-directional communication and power flow that can enhance security, reliability, and efficiency of the power system [8-10]. Smart grid solutions aim at calculation of optimum generation-transmission-distribution pattern and storing power system data. For the growing concern about
environment along with efficient generation and distribution, distributed energy resources (DER) with smart microgrid can be a potential solution [11]. It can be said that distributed smart microgrid can bring additional benefits for global power system planning [12]. In other words, SG is the integration of technologies, systems and processes to make power grid intelligent and automated [13]. Fig. 1 shows basic constructions of conventional grid and smart grid to demonstrate their dissimilarities. Unlike the unidirectional power flow in the conventional system, power and information flow between the generation and distribution sides in a bidirectional manner.
FIGURE 1. Utility grids: (a) conventional grid (b) smart grid. In the conventional system power flows from in one direction only; but for smart grid, there is no strict structure. Generation can occur at the consumer side too, such as the wind and the solar farms at the outer periphery of the topology. Power flow can also be bidirectional, demonstrated by the energy storages and the house in this illustration.